Persons not in the labour force represent that group of the population who, during the reference week of the ABS monthly LFS, are neither employed nor unemployed (see diagram 8.2). Interest in this group centres primarily on their potential to participate in the labour force.

There were 5.4 million people aged 15 years and over not in the labour force at September 2006 (table 8.43). Some 14% of people (751,600) outside the labour force were marginally attached to the labour force. These people wanted to work and were either actively looking for work but were not available to start work in the reference week, or were not actively looking, but available to start work (in the reference week or within four weeks). Of people not in the labour force, a higher proportion of women were marginally attached compared with men (15% and 12% respectively). Of the marginally attached, slightly more men were actively looking for work compared with women (10% and 7%).

In September 2006 there were 56,100 discouraged jobseekers. Discouraged jobseekers are people who are marginally attached to the labour force, want to work and are available to start work, but are not actively looking for work as they believe they will not find a job for labour market related reasons, such as No jobs in locality or line of work, Considered too old by employers or Lacked the necessary schooling, training, skills or experience. Of men who were marginally attached to the labour force, 8% were discouraged jobseekers, compared with 7% of women.